under way

American  

adjective

1. Also (of a ship) no longer in port, at anchor, etc.; moving.

2. no longer at rest, stationary, etc.; in motion; traveling.

   We'll put our bags in the car and be under way.

3. proceeding; in progress.

   Plans are under way to sell the company.

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under way British  

adjective

1. in progress; in operation

   the show was under way

2. nautical in motion

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under way Idioms  

1. In motion, as in The ship got under way at noon . [c. 1930]

2. Already started, in progress, as in Plans are under way to expand . [c. 1930]

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Example Sentences

See Examples For:

under way

As scientists link oral bacteria to heart disease and cognitive decline, a push is under way to treat the mouth as a source of bodywide inflammation.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 28, 2026

A fourth heatwave of the year is now under way for parts of the UK, with temperatures expected to climb into the mid-30s Celsius later this week.

From BBC ● Jul. 28, 2026

Pricing talks are under way with many governments around the world, particularly those chosen by the U.S. to compare its prices to, Soriot says.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 28, 2026

Tehran, however, earlier denied that direct negotiations were under way, saying mediators were merely relaying messages from Washington.

From Barron's ● Jul. 27, 2026

Beidleman pulled a 150-foot coil of rope from his pack, I grabbed another coil from Ang Dorje, and with Boukreev and Harris we got under way at noon to fix lines up the summit ridge.

From "Into Thin Air" by Jon Krakauer